Saber Interactive has recently updated the Steam listing for its title Rideshare Simulator to include a clear disclaimer about the use of artificial intelligence in the game's development. This move comes after a heated dispute erupted over claims that the studio had dismissed a writer working on the project and substituted her contributions with text generated by AI tools.
The company’s decision to add the notice appears to be an effort to address community concerns, provide transparency, and mitigate the backlash that followed the public exchange between the studio’s chief executive, Matt Karch, and former staff member Stella Sacco. The full text of the new AI disclaimer reads as follows: "This update follows comments from Saber CEO Matt Karch regarding writer Stella Sacco, who worked at Saber from July 2023 to July 2024, and stated she was removed from Rideshare midway through development and replaced with ChatGPT, while alleging other then‑unannounced use of AI in the game's development." The statement goes on to explain that the studio acknowledges the use of AI for certain elements of the game and promises to revise the Steam page once the final feature set is locked down. By publishing this notice, Saber hopes to reassure players that any AI‑generated content is being disclosed openly and that the decision to incorporate such technology is being framed as a benefit for consumers, especially given the game’s positioning as an affordable title.
The controversy began when former writer Stella Sacco, who was employed by Saber for roughly a year, took to the social media platform BlueSky to allege that she had been removed from the Rideshare project midway through its development cycle and that her responsibilities were taken over by ChatGPT, the well‑known language model from OpenAI. Sacco’s post suggested that the studio had also employed AI in other, as‑yet‑undisclosed aspects of the game’s creation, raising questions about the extent to which human authorship had been supplanted by machine‑generated text. In response, Matt Karch issued a statement that attempted to clarify the situation. He claimed that Sacco had been "replaced by someone more talented and terminated for a variety of reasons a few months later," and added, "in retrospect I would have been happy to replace her with AI." Karch’s remarks were further elaborated in an interview with the podcast This Week In Videogames, where he said, "Stella who?
I had to ask Claude because I have never spoken to her or seen her." He went on to acknowledge that the studio was indeed using AI for certain portions of the game and promised to update the Steam page once the feature set was finalized. According to Karch, the incorporation of AI was intended to be a "plus for consumers," especially given the lower price point of the title.
The exchange quickly escalated on social media. In a BlueSky post over the weekend, Sacco wrote that Karch had "apologised unreservedly for the awful way he spoke about me in the press." She added, "I've been firm from the beginning that I was telling the truth; I think we can all now agree that it's been borne out. Matt expressed a desire to make it right with me; at this time I don't really know what that looks like for me, and I'll have to take some time to sit with it, but I do at least accept his apology." Karch also posted a public comment on LinkedIn, attempting to explain his reaction.
He wrote, "I unfortunately got triggered by certain later comments (for reasons I won't get into) and shot first and thought second about how to respond. It happens and I am a human being. I have done what I can to rectify." This admission of an impulsive response, followed by a promise to make amends, seemed designed to soften the perception of his earlier, more defensive remarks. The broader industry context is worth noting.
Over the past few years, many game developers have experimented with AI tools to accelerate writing, dialogue generation, and even asset creation. While these technologies can streamline production pipelines, they also raise ethical concerns about authorship, credit, and the potential displacement of human creators.
In the case of Saber Interactive, the public dispute highlights the delicate balance studios must strike between leveraging AI for efficiency and maintaining transparent communication with both their staff and the player community. From a consumer standpoint, the AI disclaimer on the Steam page serves several purposes. First, it provides clarity about the nature of the content players will encounter, ensuring they are not misled into believing every line of dialogue or narrative element was handcrafted by a human writer.
Second, it sets a precedent for other developers who may face similar scrutiny as AI tools become more ubiquitous in the industry. Finally, it offers a measure of accountability; by publicly acknowledging AI usage, Saber invites feedback and oversight from its audience. For Stella Sacco, the episode represents both a personal and professional crossroads. Having been involved in the project for a year, her claim that she was replaced by an AI system touches on deeper issues of workplace fairness and the value placed on creative labor.
Her willingness to accept Karch’s apology, while also indicating that she needs time to consider what restitution might look like, suggests a desire for resolution without sacrificing the truth of her experience. Matt Karch’s reflections on his own behavior—admitting that he was "triggered" and reacted without fully thinking through his response—underscore a human element often missing from corporate statements. By acknowledging his mistake and pledging to correct it, he attempts to rebuild trust with both his former employee and the broader gaming community.
In summary, Saber Interactive’s addition of an AI disclaimer to the Rideshare Simulator Steam page is a direct response to a controversy sparked by allegations of writer replacement and undisclosed AI usage. The company’s leadership, particularly CEO Matt Karch, has issued apologies and explanations, acknowledging both the factual aspects of the dispute and his own impulsive reaction to criticism. The incident serves as a microcosm of the larger conversation about AI in game development, highlighting the need for transparency, ethical considerations, and respectful treatment of creative talent. As the industry continues to integrate AI technologies, the Saber case may become a reference point for how studios navigate the intersection of innovation, accountability, and human collaboration.